Defense Gives Fsu Edge In Cotton Bowl

DALLAS — Winston Churchill must have been looking 50 years into the future when he sent reporters scurrying for notepads with his commentary on Britain's great aerial defense in World Bowl II.

''Never . . . was so much owed by so many to so few,'' he pronounced, and in the 1992 Cotton Bowl, Florida State's defenders deserved to have Churchill's sermon tattooed across their foreheads.

But for the tenacity of the young men playing defense for the Seminoles on Wednesday, Florida State rooters around the world would be lamenting a spoiled season in which a No. 1 team lost its last three games.

On a day when FSU's marquee-studded offense piddled around in futility all afternoon, it was Kirk Carruthers, Carl Simpson, Ken Alexander, Terrell Buckley, Errol McCorvey and their defensive friends who refused to let this game be lost.

After it was over, Seminoles quarterback Casey Weldon let the world in on his own little secret. Weldon's four interceptions were part of a master plan, a request of the FSU defenders.

''They asked me to put them in bad situations so they could show they are No. 1,'' Weldon said jokingly, and if that were true, Weldon carried out the game plan like an All-American.

So did the defense. Four times in the first half Texas A&M had the ball inside the Seminoles' 30, but each trip was fruitless. Twice FSU forced fumbles, once the 'Noles got an interception, and once a delay-of-game penalty forced A&M out of field-goal range.

Fact: Texas A&M was 0-for-12 in third-down conversions.

Fact: Florida State caused eight A&M turnovers, six of them fumbles.

Fact: A&M quarterback Bucky Richardson completed six of his 24 passes and was sacked three times.

The Seminoles' defenders were goaded into their frenzy by a coaching staff that reminded them all week that Texas A&M's defense was, by statistics, the best defense in the country.

''Our coaches stressed that over and over,'' cornerback McCorvey said, ''and that put a lot of pressure on us to show that we're better than anyone.''

Linebackers coach Wally Burnham said it was critical that FSU win first-down situations, getting A&M in long-yardage position so the 'Noles could use their nickel (five-defensive-back) defense. The Seminoles limited the Aggies to an average of 2.6 yards on first down.

And FSU had to stop an option attack that was a bit of a surprise. ''They ran the option a lot more than we thought they would,'' Burnham said. ''For some reason, they thought they could run it on us.''

The Aggies couldn't run the option, though, and as the game progressed, it was apparent they couldn't run anything else. The fact that FSU's offense couldn't run anything, either, never did frustrate the Seminoles' defenders.

''There have been circumstances this year when the offense had to carry the defense,'' Carruthers said. ''We can't get angry at an offense like ours because they have been so dominating all year. We knew they would get the job done when it counted.''

When it was over, coach Bobby Bowden delivered the ultimate compliment. ''I don't know if I have ever been around a defense that played better than this one today.